I was born in the village. I remembered we lived in a room and parlor apartment where there are dozens of tenants. I grew up as a local boy, but I was given good treatment. After I passed through using of slate to write ABC, I was taken to the best school in the village. The school was owned by Mrs. Mayers from the US. After a few years, my family had an attack. That's something I can never forget in my entire life, and that's what marked the beginning of our struggle.
On a fateful day, my two younger sisters and I woke up at the same time at the middle of the night and started drinking water. We drank the whole water in the house and kept looking for more. As we were walking around desperately to get water, our mum woke up. She couldn't believe her eyes.
Our dad works in the city. He only comes home once in 2 weeks. My mum asked us what was wrong, but we kept asking for water. To cut the story short, we all landed in the hospital the following morning.
One of us died. Only my immediate sister and I survived. When dad came, he couldn't believe what happened. He was embittered. After we were a little bit strong to travel a long journey, my dad moved us to the city. We had to change our school. We now live in a single room. As a young child, I knew things were not moving well with my parents, but there was nothing I can do to help. After some years, things changed, and we moved to our own house.
I didn't feel I was suffering anymore. I eat good food and play when I want to, even though I'm somehow restricted. My high school was fun and interesting. As a student, I was the richest in my class because I could afford what none of my classmates can. After my high school, I told my dad I wanted to get a job pending when I will get admission into a higher institution, but he refused to let me have a job. I couldn't disrespect his orders so I stayed at home till I was admitted.
Higher institution was lit. I joined politics, and found myself at the SUG level. I didn't suffer in school. Things went well for me throughout except for some minor challenges I had, which isn't much of a problem. I graduated with upper credit in my field and I was happy. My parents have been sponsoring me all these years. Now, it's time for me to explore. Smiles
With a good result, I searched for job for a year, and none was showing face. My dad had cataract and the operation went wrong. This lead to permanent blindness. He couldn't work actively, and everything deteriorated. I just remembered a song by TIMI DAKOLO (wish me well)
One morning, I packed my bags, and told my parents I'm changing location. They prayed for me and I went to Abuja (FCT). A friend and I lived in a single room. The public toilet in the house was like septic tank itself. I said to myself: You are just starting life.
I began to struggle on the street of Abuja for a job. I walked for months looking for a job and before you know it, the sole of my shoe started bending to the sides. When hunger wanted to kill me, I dropped my CV and entered the street. I began to look for menial jobs I could do, and I got one.
I got a job as a laborer. I work on the site with engineers to pack sand, carry blocks, mix cement, fetch water, and so on. It was a very tedious job, but if I don't do it, I won't eat. No food for a lazy man. I did this for a year. I walk around to anywhere they are building to lobby for work.
Admist all this, I never thought I was passing through a hard time because I remembered what my dad use to tell me.
Life is not a bird of roses. When you are on your own, you will understand that. So never give up and resign to fate. Keep pushing
After a while, I could work as a mason. Working as a laborer has thought me many things, and because I learn fast, I could lobby for a mason job. Later, I started reading house plan, doing forming, and so on. The journey of life has turned a computer engineer to a building engineer. LOL
I continued doing my mason job anytime I have one, and sometimes if there's no mason job, I serve as laborer. So one day I received a call in the afternoon. I was in the hot sun carrying morta to serve the mansion working. I declined the call because it wasn't a normal number. The call entered the second time and I picked.
They were calling from Lagos Airtel head office. I was interviewed on phone. After the interview, I knew I had failed. I wasn't composed. I was tired and sweating like a Christmas goat. After a week, I was called for an interview at the Abuja Airtel head office.
I went there and found many people. We were all interviewed and I left. I do believe that what would be would be. I never put my mind to it. I continued going to the site to look for work, but as God would have it, I was called to resume work. It was a great moment for me because the stress from the site work would stop.
I went through one month of training and I was given my office. I worked for a year at Airtel Nigeria until a close friend frauded with my log on. I do share my password with him sometimes when he has an issue with his. Since it was my account that was used, I'm the one they are seeing. What saved me from going to jail was the good records I had because they had to go to all the schools I graduated from to verify my result and my behavior. It wasn't easy on me, but God vindicated me. Never trust a friend, and expect the worst from your loved ones.
This wrecked me. Where will I start? Will I start going back to my vomit. No. I decided to learn things online and came across cryptocurrency. From there, I was introduced to steemit. From there, I joined utopian and became a moderator. This marked the beginning of another phase in my life.
Things were moving well. I had interest in learning coding after some years and I was given a scholarship at Projaro to learn. I went for three months. We stopped at javascript. I never had the opportunity to learn react and NodeJs, but it's something I can learn on my own using videos on youtube.
From this little tech knowledge, I was able to join hands with a friend to work in his tech company. I also do social media marketing and other stuff online. Ever since I've left Airtel, I've never worked for anyone and that has been my dream.
I'm not poor, and I'm not rich. I just thank God that I can easily feed myself and my family and look forward to having a better breakthrough.
Oh! I shouldn't forget to mention that I love farming. I call myself a rubbish farmer.
Dad is late. Life continues.
Thanks for reading.
This is ckole the laughing gas
One love.